Sunday, February 10, 2013

2012-2013: By The Numbers

Here are some stats and notes about the Varsity Reds 2012-2013 regular season:

- UNB finished the season with a record of 23-5-0. They won at least 20 games for the 6th straight year and 23 games for the 4th time in those 6 seasons. To put this achievement in perspective, since the current 28 game schedule was introduced before the 1996-1997 season only the 1997-1998 CIS Champion V-Reds (who went 24-3-1) have won at least 23 games in a season and only 5 other teams have topped the 20 win plateau - 21 by the 1996-1997 Acadia Axemen, 24 by the 1997-1998 UNB Varsity Reds, 22 by the 2006-2007 Moncton Aigle Bleus, and 20 by the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 Saint Mary's Huskies. Their 46 points this season ranked 2nd in the CIS behind Alberta, who went 21-4-3.

- For the record, yours truly predicted a 22-5-1 record in my season preview back in October. Not too bad.

- The V-Reds went 12-2-0 at the AUC this year, the 9th time in the last 10 seasons they have won 10+ home games. In the last 6 years they are a remarkable 75-8-1 on home ice.

- UNB went 11-3-0 on the road, the first time in 3 seasons they have reached double digits in victories away from home.

- With 11 wins in the first half and 12 in the second half the Varsity Reds have now won 10+ games in 11 of their last 12 'halfs' over the last 6 seasons (they went 9-3-2 in the second half last year).

- Although UNB led the AUS in goals scored for the 4th consecutive year with 111 (3.96 per game), and ranked 4th in the entire CIS behind only Western (118), Alberta (117), and UQTR (112), this was their fewest total since the 2006-2007 season when they scored 109. However, they have now finished in the top two in AUS goal scoring in each of the last 11 seasons.

- The V-Reds only gave up 59 goals, marking the 6th consecutive year they have led the conference in goals against average. This is also the 4th time in that span they have held opponents under 60. They ranked 2nd in the CIS behind Alberta, who only gave up 46 goals this season.

- UNB outscored the opposition 56-29 at home this year, and an almost identical 55-30 on the road. Their 56 home goals were the fewest in 6 seasons, but the 30 goals allowed on the road tied for their fewest over that span.

- For the 6th consecutive season the V-Reds gave up fewer goals in the second half of the season (24) than the first half (35).

- The Varsity Reds outscored opponents 33-19 in the first period, 33-23 in the second, 45-17 in the third, and 2-0 in overtime.

- Despite averaging over 35 shots on goal for the 6th straight year, this is the first time during that span they have not led the conference. Both Acadia (37.9) and Saint Mary's (36.7) took more than UNB's (35.2).

- They did, however, lead the entire CIS in shots allowed for the 5th consecutive season, surrendering only 21.25 per game. Alberta was 2nd at 21.39 per game. UNB only allowed more than 28 shots in one conference game all season (31 in a 3-2 win against UPEI on January 18th).

- The V-Reds went 26 for 138 on the power play. Their 18.8% success rate ranked 4th in the AUS and was their best in 3 seasons, but still a far cry from the three years prior when they were at 29.1% (2007-2008), 22.6% (2008-2009), and 26.6% (2009-2010). Their 138 opportunities this year were the fewest in 6 seasons.

- UNB killed off 122 of 149 penalties this year (81.9%) which ranked 6th in the AUS. This was their worst mark since the 2008-2009 season when they were successful only 79.4% of the time. By comparison, they killed off 91.5% in 2009-2010, 90.5% in 20110, and 82.8% last year.

- UNB's 6 shorthanded goals ranked 2nd in the AUS, one behind Moncton. This was their fewest since scoring only 4 in 2008-2009. They had 12 last year, 9 in 2010-2011, and 8 in 2009-2010.

- The Varsity Reds were -21 goals when shorthanded this year (27 power play goals against, 6 shorthanded goals scored). Over the previous three years they were a remarkable -26 combined (53 power play goals against, 27 shorthanded goals scored), including seasons of -4 in 2009-2010 (12 power play goals against, 8 shorthanded goals for) and -5 in 2010-2011 (14 power play goals against, 9 shorthanded goals for).

- UNB's .903 save percentage only ranked 6th in the AUS, but was a big upgrade compared to last year's 0.892 mark.

- The V-Reds were the best team in the league with the empty net, leading the conference in both goals for (6) and fewest goals allowed (1).

- Although UNB took more penalty minutes per game than last year (20.3 vs 19.0 in 2011-2012), this was still below the two seasons before that (23.7 in 2010-2011 and 21.9 in 2009-2010).

- UNB once again easily led the AUS in home attendance - averaging almost 1200 per game more than 2nd place Acadia - even though their average of 2518 per game was the lowest since the 2008-2009 season (2495). By comparison, the Varsity Reds drew an average of 2820 in 2009-2010, 2559 in 2010-2011, and 2759 last season.